I honestly don’t think I’m ready for another MIND ERASER record. I’m still scrubbing the grime off from their last beast of a record, Cave. MIND ERASER are about as unapologeticly heavy and crust-laden as they come in hardcore. Glacial Reign delivers another handful of welts with each passing listening. It’s been hard to listen [...]

After three weeks in the studio, MIKOTO have left the comfy confines of Infrasonic with a new full-length in hand (sorta). Singer Ray Harkins was kind enough to share his thoughts on the experience and we’ve added his entries for the past week. You can check them out here.

If it seems like Rise Records is doing all that it can to shed the image that it’s a lightweight label when it comes to truly heavy music, then AT THE THRONE OF JUDGMENT is staple-gunned nail into the balloon of perception. This Ohio based metal band is all-out Gothenburg thrash with a touch of German death metal – think ARCH ENEMY and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, but with only one guitarist. While originality may be at a premium here, the band’s full-length, The Arcanum Order doesn’t skimp on power or technical skills. You can check out several of the band’s new songs on their myspace page.

From the inbox:

Lifeforce Records America is proud to announce the signing of Atlanta GA’s LIGHT PUPIL DILATE!

Slithering out of Atlanta Georgia, heavy rock trio Light Pupil Dilate blend elements of classic metal (Slayer, Sepultura), progressive rock (King Crimson, Yes), punk (Nomeansno, MDC), hardcore (Converge, TITD), and 90′s D.C. rock (Shudder to Think, Fugazi) into a smoldering mess of sound and fury. Featuring a strong dual-vocal approach, the sonically textured guitar work of Eric Searle, the upfront-pounding bass lines of Mike Chvasta plus the chaotic groove of Michael Green; LPD pulls from the roots of rock and metal but never strays from doing something original and fresh.

Light Pupil Dilate’s Lifeforce Records American debut Snake Wine will see a October 30th release. Co-produced by the band and ripped jeans/producer extraordinaire, Matt Washburn (Mastodon, Norma Jean), Snake Wine delves further into LPD’s strange mix of post-punk meets tech-metal sound delivering a thick juicy slab of venomous rock n’ fuckin’ roll.

link: myspace.com/lightpupildilate

- Take a listen to their new songs; these guys are a lot better than the mess described in the above press release.

After releasing a self-titled album that was shrouded in mystery last year through The Militia Group, the story behind UMBRELLAS has opened up a bit with the release of the group’s follow-up, Illuminare. Last year, details regarding the band were slim as their press photos were blurred, their bio was brief, and their names were [...]

Philadelphia’s A LIFE ONCE LOST have completed recording their upcoming Ferret release Iron Gag. The completed effort will be released on September 18th and, in the meantime, the first track off the album, “Firewater Joyride”, can be found at their MySpace page. The tracklist can be found below:

01 – “Firewater Joyride”

02 – “Detest”

03 – “The Wanderer”

04 – “Worship”

05 – “All Teeth”

06 – “Meth Mouth”

07 – “Masks”

08 – “Pigeonholed”

09 – “Others Die”

10 – “Silence”

11 – “Ill Will”

From the inbox:

THE WEAKERTHANS have completed work on their strongly anticipated fourth studio disc, Reunion Tour. Slated for a September 25th, 2007 release through Anti-, the set was crafted among “the finest slaughterhouses, industrial sites and sub-degree temperatures” its Winnipeg , Manitoba hometown has to offer. The band once again recorded with Ian Burtan who produced 2003’s Reconstruction Site. The tracklisting for the effort is below.

1. Civil Twilight

2. Hymn of the Medical Oddity

3. Relative Surplus Value

4. Tournament of Hearts

5. Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure

6. Elegy for Gump Worsley

7. Sun in an Empty Room

8. Night Windows

9. Bigfoot!

10. Reunion Tour

11. Utilities